Fluid-fuel-burner control



March 26, 1929. F, SHIVERS FLUID FUEL BURNER CONTROL Filed May v] 192'? INV4ENTO R Paul If Sim era,

ATTOR NEYS V UNITED STATES mama Me. as; 929.

1,101,194 PATENT oFl-"lca.

PAUL I. SHIVERS, OF WABASH, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL REGULATOR COMPANY, 01' MINNEAPOLIS, IINNE- BOTA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

. rnurnrunn-nunnnn com'non.

Application filed Nay 7, 1927. Serial No. 189,478.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient means for automatically controlling thevaction of a fluid-fuel burner so that it may be depended upon to permit au- 5 tomatic normal operations of the burner but will prevent delivery of fuel in all cases of accidental failure of ignition or combustion.

The accompanying drawing illustratesmy invention diagrammatically.

Flow of current from the main power leads and 11 is controlled by a room thermostat '1 (and associated controls such as a boiler control B, if desired) connected by a wire 12 to leaf 13 of the warp switch W, said leaf 13 5 being normally held in contact with a terminal 14 by the bimetallic blade 16 of the warp switch, the leaf 13 being insulated from blade 16 and biased away from terminal 14 by spring 17. g The heating coil 18, which is associated with blade 16 to cause its warping, has .one

end electrically connected to blade 16 and its other end is connected by wire 19 with terminal 14.

A wire 20 connects heating coil 18 by wire 19 with a terminal 21 projected into one end of a mercury tube 22 which forms the circuitchanging element of the combustion control C.

The combustion control C is a circuit determining device sensitive to combustion conditions closely 'adjacentthe burner and may convenientl be a well known thermostatic device whic while movable through a wide range serves to change circuits promptly upon rise or fall of temperatures.

Paired with terminal 21 is a terminal 23 which is electrically connected to a terminal.

24 at the opposite end of tube 22. Terminals 4o 23 and 24 are connected by wire 24' with blade 16 of warp switch W. V

Grouped with terminal 24 are two terminals 25 and 26. Terminal 25 is connected by wire 27 with an electrical ignition system I which, in the drawing, is indicated as comprising a sparking mechanism 28 and an elecupon a reciprocable plunger 37 which controls a fuel valve 38 in the fuelv line leading to the burner. The opposite end of stator 35 is connected to a wire 39 which is connected to lead 10. y

The valve motor VM is of a type which will permit stalling while under the influence of an energizing current and its action upon plunger 37 as opposed by a spring ,40 which biases the plunger to valve closing position.

Associated with terminals 32 are two terminals 41 and 42. Terminal 41 is connected by wire 43 with wire 24 and consequently with blade 16 and terminals 23 and 24 of the combustion control 0. Terminal 42 is connected by wire 44 with the main burner motor M, said motor also being connected with wire 39.

The motor M may drive an oil pump or moving parts of the burner.

. Carrier 34 is connected at with plun er 37 in such manner that, when the 011 va ve is closed, terminals 32, 41 and 42 will be electrically disconnected and when the oil valve is opened all of said terminals will be electrically connected.

The diagram shows the parts in coldhposition.

When heat is called for by thermostat T the circuit 11T1-2-13-1419---18- 1624'-24.-25272829--30 1O is established and the ignition mechanism I energized. At the same time the circuit 11- T- 121314--l9181624'24-26-31 35-39-40 is established, thus energizing the valve motor VM to raise plunger 37 against the action of spring 40 and 0 en valve 38.

The opening'movement of p unger 37 shifts the interlock and main motor switch to establish a maintaining circuit for the valve motor and energizin circuit for the burner motor. The maintaining circuit is 11T-1213- 14-1918 1624'434132-31-35 39-10, thus making a valve motor circuit independent of the combustion control C. The main motor circuit is 11-T 1213-'14 191816-24'4341-42-44-M-39 If, for any reason, ignition of the fuel fails there will be no change of circuits at the combustion control C and, in a predetermined. 1 time, the flow of current through the heatin coil 18 will warp blade 16 and cause a brea of all circuits at 13-14. v

If pro er ignition occurs the combustion control 6 will shift to break connection between terminals 24, 25 and 26 and to make connection between terminals 21 and 23, thus shunting the heating coil18 as follows: 11-

T12-13-14.--19-2021-2324'43 32-31 to stator 35, and 4244 to motor M.

If, for any reason, combustion fails after initial ignition the combustion control will return to the cold position thereby breaking connection at 2123 whereupon t e ignition means is again energized to produce ignition, if possible. If such ignition occurs promptly the combustion control will be returned to its hot position but if re-ignition does not occur romptly coil 18 will be heated to cause a reak of all circuits at 13-14, whereupon manual re-set of the apparatus becomes nec- If, for any reason, the combustion control should be improperly placed or held in hot position, by shorting across 21-23 or otherwise, when the apparatus was cold, the whole apparatus will become inoperative and nonresponsive to thermostat T. If, on the other hand, such an improper manipulation of combustion control C should take place after it had been carried, by heat at the burner, to hot position, a break of the circuit at T will, of course, de-energize the valve motor and fuel motor circuits, thus stopping the fuel motor and permitting the valve motor to be returned to normal, thus returning switch carrier 34 to normal whereupon, because of the break between 32, 41 and 42, the apparatus will be out of commission until the combustion control C is restored to its normal condition.

While I have illustrated mercury tube switches at various points it will be readily understoodthat any desired form of circuitbreaker suitable for handling the necessary current may be substituted without departing from ,m invention.

t will a o be understood that the details of motor VM and its connection with the switch actuated thereby may be considerably modified and that it is not absolutely essential that this motor actuates a fuel valve 50 because, while'such a valve is quite desirable to insure against leaka e of fuel past the fuel delivering apparatus riven or controlled by 'motor M, such apparatus controlled by motor M ma be solely relied upon to control the flowo fuel.

. For convenience motor M may be calledthe fuel motor and motor VM may be called the supplemental motor. The details'of the warp switch ma be varied, the essential characteristics being that there be a retarded circuit-breakin action after a predetermined time interval 0 current flow in the absence of combustion at the burner, and the term warp switch in the claims is used to designate such a device generally and .the term heating coil is used. to designate generally the element thereof electrically} causing delayed circuitbreaking action. he term room thermostat is used to desi ate a main circuit controlling element sensitive to thermal or other conditions to be afiected at a remote point by the burner.

I claim as my invention 1. In a control system for fluid-fuel burners; a supplemental electric motor; an energizmg circuit for said supplemental motor comprising a warp switch and its heating coil, and a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner; a maintaining circuit for said supplemental motor comprising the wa switch, a circuitbreaker sensitive to com ustion conditions adjacent the burner and capable of cutting out the heatin coil, and a circuit-breaker actuated by tie supplemental motor; a burner. motor; an energizing circuit for said burner motor comprising the warp switch and its heating coil and a circuitbreaker actuated by the supplemental motor; and a maintaining circuit for the burner motor comprising said last mentioned circuit-breaker and the circuit-breaker which cuts out the heating coi-l.

2. In'a control system for fluid-fuel burners; a supplemental electric motor; an energizing circuit for said supplemental motor comprising a warp switch and its heating coil, and a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner; a maintaining circuit for said supplemental motor comprising the war switch, a circuitbreaker sensitive to com ustion conditions adjacent the burner and capable of cutting out the heating coil, and a circuit-breaker actuated by the supplemental motor; a burner motor; an energizing circuit for said burner motor comprising t e warp switch and its heating coil and a circuit-breaker actuated by the supplemental motor; a maintainin circuit for the burner motor comprising sai last mentioned circuit-breaker and the circuitbreaker which cuts out the heating coil; electric ignition means, and an energizing circuit therefor comprising the warp switch and a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner.

3. In a control system for fluid-fuel burn ers; a supplemental electric motor; a reciprocable element actuatedfiin one direction by said motor; means biasing said reciprocable member against said motor; a fuel valve associated with said reciprocable member; an

actuating circuit for said supplemental motor comprising a warp switch and its heating coil and a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner; a maintaining circuit for said supplemental motor comprising the wa switch, a circuit-breaker sensitive to com ustion conditions adjacent the burner and capable of cutting out the motor comprising 1: e warp switch and its heating coil and a circuit-breaker associated with said reciprocable member; a maintaining circuit for the burner motor comprising said last mentioned circuit-breaker and the circuit-breaker which cuts out the heating coil; electric ignition means; and an energizing circuit therefor comprising the warp switch and a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner.

4. In a control system for fluid-fuel burners; a supplemental electric motor; a reciprocable element actuated in one direction by said motor; means biasing said reciprocable member a ainst said'motor; an actuating circuit for sald suplemental motor comprising a warp switch and its heating coil and a circuitbreaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner; amaintaining circuit for said supplemental motor comprising the warp switch, a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the, burner and capable of cutting out the heating coil, and a circuit-breaker associated with said reciprocable member; a burner motor; an energizing circuit for said burner motor comprising the warp switch and its heating coil and a circuit- ,breaker associated with said reciprocable member; and a maintaining circuit for the burner motor comprising said last mentioned circuit-breaker and the circuit-breaker which cuts out the heating coil.

5. In acontrol system for fluid-fuel burners; a suplemental electric motor; a reciprocable element actuated in one direction by said motor; means biasing said reciprocable member against said motor; a fuelvalve associated circuit for said supplemental motor comprismg a warp switch and its heatlng c011 and a circuit-breaker sensltive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner; a maintaining circuit for said supplemental motor comprising the warp switch, a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner and capable of cutting out the heating coil,

and a circuit-breaker associated with said reciprocable member; a burner motor; an energizi 1g circuit for said burner motorcomprising the warp switch and its heating coil and a circuit-breaker asociated with said reciprocable member; and a maintaining circuit for the burner motor comprising said last mentioned circuit-breaker and the circuit-breaker which cuts out the heating coil. r

6. In a control system for fluid-fuel burners; a supplemental electric motor; a reciprocable element actuated in one direction by said motor; means biasing said reciprocable member against said motor; an actuating circuit for said supplemental motor comprising a warp switch and its heating coil and a circuit breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner;-a maintainin circuit for said supplemental motor comprising the warp switch, a circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner and capable of cutting out the heating coil, and a circuitbreaker associated with said reciprocable member; a burner motor; an energizing circuit for said burner motor comprising the warp switch and its heating coil and a circuitbreaker associated with said reciprocable member; a maintaining circuit for the burner motor comprising said last mentioned circuitbreaker and the circuit-breaker which cuts out the heating coil; electric ignition means; and an energizing circuit therefor comprising the war switch and a circuit-breaker sensitive to com ustion conditions adjacent the burner.

7 In a control system for fluid-fuel burners; a supplemental electric motor; a reciprocable element actuated by said motor; afuel motor; a warp switch comprising a heating coil; circuit-breaking means actuated by the supplemental -.motor comprising three associated-terminals and means for simultaneously making or breaking circuits thereat circuitbreaking means sensitive to combustion conditions adjacent the burner comprising a hot group of two terminals and a cold group of two terminals and means for alternately con-- necting the terminals of said groups; electric connections between the warp switch, the heating coil, one terminal of each group of the circuit-breaking means sensitive to combus= tion conditions, and one terminal of the motoractuated circuit-breaker; electric connections, between one terminal of the cold group of the circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions and the warp switch, shunting the heating coil; electric connections between one terminal of the cold group of the circuitbreaker sensitive to combustion conditions, one terminal of the motor-actuated circuitbreaker and the supplemental motor; electric connections between the fuel motor and one terminal of the motor-actuated circuit-breaker; and power terminals for the fuel motor and warp switch.

8. In a control system for fluid-fuel burners; a supplemental electric motor; a reciprocable element actuated in one direction by said motor; means biasing said element against the motor; a fuel motor; a warp switch comprising a heating coil; circuitbreaking means actuated by the reciprocable element comprising three associated terminals and means for simultaneously making or breaking circuits thereat; circuit-breaking -means sensitive to combustion conditions adthe motor-actuated circuit-breaker; and

' mmal of the cold power terminals for the fuel motor and warp switch.

9. In a control stem for fluid-fuel burners; a supplementa electric motor; a reciprocable element actuated by said motor a fuel motor; a warp switch comprising a heating coil; circuit-breaking means actuated by the supplemental motor comprising three associated terminals and means for simultaneously making or breaking circuits thereat; circuit-breakin means sentitive to combustion conditions a jacent the burner comprising a hot group of two terminals and a cold group of three terminals and means for alternately connecting the terminals of said groups electric connections between the warp switch, the heating coil, one terminal of each group of the circuit-breaking means sensitive to combustion conditions, and one terminal of the motoractuated circuit-breaker; electric connections, between one terminal of the cold group of the circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions and the warp switch, shunting the heating coil; electric connections between one teroup of the circuit-breaker sensitive to com ustion conditions, one terminal of the motor-actuated circuit-breaker and the supplemental motor; electri connections between the fuel motor and one terminal of the motor-actuated circuit-hr aker; electric ignition means; electric connections between one terminal of the cold-group of the circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion cm} ditions, the ignition means, and a power terminal; and power terminals for the 'fuel motor and warp switch.

10. In a control s stem for fluid-fuel burnera; a su plementa electric motor; areci rocable eliament actuated in one direction y said motor; means biasing said element against the motor; a fuel motor; a warp switch comprising a heating coil; circuitbreaking means actuated by the reci rocable element comprising three associate terminals and means for simultaneously making or breaking circuits thereat; circuit-breaking means sensitive to combustion conditions ad jacent the burner comprising a hot roup of two terminals and a cold group of t ree terminals and means for alternately connecting the terminals of said groups; electric connections between the warp switch, the heating coil, one terminal of each group of the circuit-breaking means sensitive to combustion conditions, and one terminalofthemotoractuated circuit breaker; electric connections, between one terminal of the cold group of the circuit-breaker sensitive to combustion conditions and the warp switch, shunting the heating coil; electric connections between one terminal of the cold group of the circuitbreaker sensitive to combustion conditions, one terminal of the motor-actuated circuitbreaker and the supplemental motor; electric connections between the fuel motor and one terminal of the m tor-actuated circuitbreaker; electric ign tion means; electric connections between one terminal of the cold oup of the circuit-breaker sensitive to com- 7 ustion conditions, the ignition means, and a power terminal; and power terminals for the fuel motor and warp switch.

In witness whereof, I, Paul F.. Shivers, have hereunto set my hand at Wabash, Indiana, this 30th day of April, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven.

' PAUL F. SHIVERS/ so 

